Self Monitoring of Blood Glucose

Better quality of life, less secondary damage

Self measurement is the basis for successful diabetes therapy

With blood glucose self-monitoring you control your diabetes, for a better quality of life and less consequential damage. Measuring regularly helps to avoid too high and too low values. Modern blood glucose meters measure a precise blood glucose value with just a tiny fresh drop of blood from the fingertip. With a few tips on what you should keep in mind when measuring blood sugar, you have the tools to actively manage your diabetes. See how diet, exercise and medication influence your blood sugar. Based on the measured blood sugar and HbA1c values, you can also see whether your blood sugar setting has worsened. If this is the case, you can take countermeasures or contact your doctor to discuss and implement necessary measures.

By knowing that you will receive the results of the measurements, you can prevent acute metabolic disorders and protect yourself from secondary diabetic diseases. Especially for people with diabetes who inject insulin, self-monitoring is of great importance, as they determine the insulin dose based on the measured values.

It is particularly important to enter the measured values in a diary and to present this diary to the doctor during the regular check-ups. Daily mean values allow conclusions to be drawn about the current HbA1c value and thus the quality of diabetes control.

• Protection against hypoglycemia and hyperglycemic decompensation or a diabetic ketiacidosis
• Better understanding and better control of your diabetes
• Higher quality of life level with more safety during leisure time, work, vacation and sports
• Insight in metabolic processes of the body
• Information about impact of exercise, hormonal influences and stressy situations on blood glucose 
• Better understanding of therapeutical measures
• Tighter control and trusty relation with the diabetes care team
• Self responsibility for treatment
• Better options in work
• Smaller number of ill staff and less time spent in hospital
• Higher expectancy of life through prevention of diabetic late complications

There are two ways to measure the blood sugar depending on the used meter.

Reflector system:
Photometric measurement is based on an enzymatic reaction and consequent colour reaction in the testing zone of the test strip. The intensity of the colour is identified by the meter and is then calculated into a corresponding blood glucose value.

Biosensors:
The main difference between sensors and colour based test strips is that the glucose reaction is linked with a biochemical reaction which leads to an electric signal. This current can be measured and corresponds with an exact blood glucose value.

Meters from former generations have to be coded by inserting a chip or by entering a special combination of numbers when opening a new vial of test strips. Most of the recent meters are now based on the new No Code technology.

The glucose range that can be measured is between 20 and 600 mg/dl (1.1 – 33.3 mmol/l).

Calibration
Blood glucose meters can be calibrated on whole blood or plasma (please refer to the Instructions for Use of your meter). The absolute majority of meters today available are plasma referenced.

NOTE: Plasma referenced meters show 10 – 15% higher values! Do not use contemporarily meters of different manufacturers as the meters could show results which deviate a lot from each other.

People with diabetes use the lateral sides of the fingertips to get a blood sample. Blood circulation is fine there and it is easy to get enough blood. Avoid the middle part of the fingertips as pricking there is very painful due to the high density of sensitive receptors.

One should consider the following topics to reduce problems with finger pricking:

• Hands should be thoroughly washed with warm water and soap and then dried. Beside the cleaning effect blood circulation is improved. Disinfection is not needed – alcohol residues could lead to wrong result.
• The lateral sides of the fingertips should be punctured to avoid pain – in the middle part of the fingertips are more sensitive receptors. Avoid to puncture the nail bed which could lead to inflammations.  
• Replace the lancet every time after using it once – the needle will lose its sharp cut tip or could be bent. This will lead to more pain and will damage the skin. The danger of infections and inflammations through bacteria or viruses is increased.  
• Use thin lancets (there are lancets available with a diameter of only 0.2mm) to reduce the pain when puncturing. As the size of the blood sample is depending from the depth of the puncture and not from the diameter of the lancet a blood drop of sufficient size is produced. Modern blood glucose meters only need very small blood samples. 
• Use different fingers for pricking – some people do not like to use the small finger or the thumb for getting a blood sample.  
• If possible use fingers of both hands to get a blood sample.
• Try to find your optimal depth for puncture: maybe you do not have to prick very deep to get an appropriate blood sample. You can also press gently the arm or finger towards the end, shake the arm or let it hang down to improve process of blood sampling. Avoid pressing the finger to produce a blood drop. 
• Press lancing device tightly to the lateral side of the fingertip and then release the button.
   

Storage of the Test Strips

• Store in dry places (not bathroom).
• After taking out a test strip from the vial immediately close it again to avoid entry of humidity.
• Do not store test strips in the car as temperatures in summer and winter can reach extremes.
• Check expiration date.
• If meter has to be coded do not forget to check code on the test strip vial and coding of the meter.
   

Mistakes at measuring your blood glucose can lead to wrong results. There are multiple causes: operating problems with the meter, defective test strips or meters, different interferences.

The user has to be trained to use the meter and the test strips to avoid problems. Using a meter is normally very easy and the training can be done quickly.

Tests with control solution from time to time ensure best quality of the blood glucose testing. It makes sense to perform a test with control solution when opening a new vial of test strips, if the meter dropped down or was somehow damaged, if the test results do not reflect your personal feeling or if results are somehow suspect. 

Possible sources of error
Most problems are caused by mistakes during operation. Only on rare occasions meter, test strips or other interferences cause problems.

Damaged test strips
Test strips should not be exposed to direct sunlight, extreme humidity, cold or warm temperatures and should not be used after expiration date. These sensible diagnostics have to stored in the original vials, which should be closed immediately after taking out one strip.

Damaged meter
Blood glucose meters are high precision instruments and should be handled after the instructions of the manufacturer. The meter is operated with sufficiently charged batteries. Correct insertion of the test strip has to be checked.

Handling errors
Operation of a new meter has to be trained. The correct sampling of a blood drop should be educated as well:

• If the finger is pressed too much the blood sample will be diluted with liquids from the tissue which can lead to wrong results.
• Wash your hands thoroughly to avoid pollution of the blood sample with residues from food and for hygienic reasons.
• Dry hands thoroughly to avoid dilution of the blood sample with water.
• Disinfection is not needed.
• The size of the blood sample has to be sufficient to enable a correct testing at the reaction zone of the test strip.
• Do not move the test strip during the measurement.
• If using a meter which has to be coded do not forget to set the new code when opening a new vial of test strips.
• Heat, direct sunlight, extrem high humidity in the air (water steam) or extreme cold temperature harm meter and test strips.

Other interferences
Both substances from the body and from outside (medication e.g. vitamin C, Acetyl salicylic acid,..) can influence accuracy of the test results.

Values can deviate to higher or lower results. Please refer to Instruction for Use of your meter and your test strips. Test results can be incaccurate if a person has very high or very low hematocrite levels.

After intensive loss of water (strong diarrhoea or nausea) test results can be inaccurate. Residues of disinfecting agents have to completely disappear to avoid inaccurate results. Contact your diabetes health care team for further information.